AN IMPORTANT MANUSCRIPT WITH NEAR CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTS OF THE VOYAGES TO THE NEW WORLD BY COLUMBUS, VESPUCCI AND OTHER NAVIGATORS TO THE AMERICAS AND ASIA. THE HONEYMAN- KRAUS COPY.Although the majority of the scientific texts are given over to the Compendium, covering distances, stars, and other interesting navigational concepts, it is the final five pages f46-48 added after his colophon on f45v, that surprise us. Titled in Latin "Hic continetur qua ratione inuenta fuerit navigatio firme terre Indiane uersus: Et insule incognite:et terra firma nulli antecessoribus cognita" (Here is contained how the method of navigation was discovered towards India and the discovery of unknown islands and terra firma not known before), Bernardo gives considerable detail regarding 9 voyages to the New World and Asia.These include Columbus's first voyage in 1492; Columbus's second voyage in 1493, with a personal account of events taken from Michele de Cuneo of Savona (a boyhood friend of Columbus who might have been personally interviewed by Bernardo); the discoveries of Alonso Negro and Pinzone with Columbus; Alise de Cadamosto's voyage to the Senegal River in 1455 and his second voyage in 1456 to the Gambia river; a general account of Portuguese voyages round the Cape of Good Hope and on to India with a mention of China beyond; notes on a letter dated Lisbon July 20, 1499 describing a journey to India, the Red Sea and the Spice Islands; a voyage of 1501 (Cabral) to India with 13 ships sent by the King of Portugal; and the third voyage of "Alberico Vespucio" (sic) setting out on March 14, 1501. Bernardo ends the section with a Latin dedication (trans): "Receive therefore, most reverend father and Lord in Christ, Lord Lorenzo de Flisco, Bishop of Ascoli, and illustrious governor of Rome and noble patrician of Genoa, the above dialogue, in a happy and cheerful spirit, as you always are; which, a slight work, I dedicated to your command, to be a perpetual indicator of the sincere love for you of myself. Don Bernardus Albingaunensis. Farewell best of readers. The end, by him through whose grace all things come."

This final text in the dialogo is an extraordinary concentration of information, giving precise accounts of the voyages, distances between places, and quirky details not found in other versions. The first-hand account of Michele de Cuneo from Savona near Genoa, whom Bernardo probably interviewed, includes the statement that "he said that the basis for finding these islands was a book of Ptolemy, which came into Columbus's hands." Although there is a long letter written in 1495 by Cuneo describing his adventures, this note by Bernardo includes information not in that letter. The details on distances between the West Indian islands may also derive from Cuneo. Other details include Vespucci's description (trans): " from Cape Verde as far as the beginning of this continent was approximately 700 leagues; although he estimated to me that he had sailed more than 1800: and this happened partly through the ignorance of the helmsman and through various storms which drove him hither and thither," going on to say that Vespucci sailed south down the south American coast, "and he sailed so much of this coast that he passed the Tropic of Capricorn, and found the Antarctic Pole, and from this the horizon was 50 degrees higher, and he was near the Antarctic Circle, 17 degrees 30 minutes." Could it have been that Bernardo also talked to Vespucci about his travels? This description of the third voyage adds more clarity to the achievements of Vespucci, supporting Vespucci's own claims to have reached 17 degrees south.

Of Bernardus Albingaunensis relatively little is known; just 4 manuscripts written by him have survived: one in Genoa, one in Rome, and the Newberry Library in Chicago have a text Explanatio super cosmographia Ptolemei written March 1497 to May 25, 1506. This manuscript seems to be his final work bringing together his train of thought on many scientific subjects. His attention to detail is apparent in this dialogo: he was interested in facts, in accuracy, and in the ways of navigation (not surprisingly since Genoa was the center of navigational prowess at this time). The final five pages of the dialogo raise a number of interesting questions as to how he obtained this detailed information and the apparent accuracy of it. All this makes the text an intriguing and important part in the jigsaw puzzle of the history of the discovery of the New World and particularly America.

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services.

Buyers' Obligations

ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.

If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.

Buyers' Premium and Charges

Buyer's Premium Rates25% on the first $150,000 of the Hammer Price20% from $150,001 to $3,000,000 of the Hammer Price12% on the excess over $3,000,001 of the Hammer Price

Payment Notices

Payment for purchases may be made in or by (a) cash, (b) cashier's check or money order, (c) personal check with approved credit drawn on a U.S. bank, (d) wire transfer or other immediate bank transfer, or (e) Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit, charge or debit card. A processing fee will be assessed on any returned checks. Please note that the amount of cash notes and cash equivalents that can be accepted from a given purchaser may be limited.

Shipping Notices

For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.